The New York Herald Newspaper, February 15, 1872, Page 3

NEW YORK HERALD, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1872-TRIPLE SHEET, WASHINGTON. The French Arms Bursting in . the Senate, er’s Vielons Volley—Wilson Promptly Returds the Pire—Sharp Skirmishing Along the Whole Line— No Blood Drawn, How Orleanist Machinations Reach Across the Atlantic. The Navy Yards and Civil Ser- vice Reform. Teaching Our Tars What Active Service Means. ‘A KANSAS JUDGE ARRAIGNED. The Tariff Bill Being Considered in Committee. The Westflelds of a Year and Their Victims. WASHINGTON, Feb, 14, 1872. Excitement in the Senate Over Sumner’s French | Arm-Selling Resolution—A_ Bitter Attack aud Strong Defcuce—Secret History of the ResolutionWas Sumner Imposed On? Mr. Sumner came into the Senate chamber earlier than usual this morning, From a certain alr of careless claborateness with which the Senator gets Dimself up when big with a set speech, and the Jarge bundle of papers arranged beforehand on the desk by bis secretary, as well as by constant relays of pages, who for several minutes were busy in bring- ing books and files of newspapers, the galleries antic- ’pated that Mr. Sumner was to be delivered of an- other attack on the administration. Almost imme- lately after the journal was read the Senator moved to proceed with the discussion of his preamble and Fegolution relative to investigation into the salo of arms, ordinance and stores during tho Franco- Prussian war. There was evident commotion made by the mo- tion. Mr. Cole, as chairman of the Appropriations Committee, wanted his little pills first attended to. Senator Sherman took decided ground against Sumner’s motion, declaring that the resolution Bhould pass at once and without debate, but that the preamble ‘was designed only to afford oppor- tunity for a political harangue. The Ohio Senator was evidently not well informed as to the plans of his friends, as Messrs, Conkling, Morton, Freling- huysen, Scott and Edmunds at once declared that Mr. Sumner should be allowed to proceed. The New York Senator was so severe in his char- acterization of motives that the Vice President called him to order. Mr. Sumner was allowed to proceed, and was hardly fairly under way when the Morning hour expired. Another hour was wasted in a debate as to allowing him to proceed, but the President's friends, taking warning by their Previous mistakes, declared that he must be ‘MMowed to go on; Mr. Sherman alone re- sisted. He declared Mr. Sumner’s charges wero only a huge biank cartridge. Mr. Carpenter was particularly facetious in his allusions to Mr. Sum- ner’s position, The latter won his point, since all were willing he should go on, and he proceeded to Complete tne attack ne had prepared. In brief, the story which Mr. Sumner told Is that our government winked at a grave violation of international obliga- tious in the matter of selling arms to the French agents during the recent war, and this was brought pbout by corrupt and purchased complicity of high American officials with French agents. These charges were made inferentially rather than airectly, and the case was built up irom such slen- der materials as were at hand with the skill and crait Mr. Sumner has so often shown, though he 13 not usually crdited with such qualities, The trial of Victor Place, recently French Consul General at New York, for peculation in the matter of these pur chases, affords the basis for Mr, Sumner’s charges. The Senator’s ulm was to establish—first, a great oMictal laxity on our part, amounting to a breach of neutrality obligations, in disposing to France of large quantities of arms; second, to show that this laxity must have been brought about by corruption, In the endeavor to make this appear the Senator showed or attempted to snow that our government received between $5,000,000 and $6,000,000 for arms sold to Remington & Sons ‘and those purchasing for inem, while the evidence brought forward on the trial of Place showed that the Provisional government of France paid for the same arms nearly $7,000,000, It was generally conceded that the case Mr. Summer tried to make ‘was @ Weak one, and all his ingenuity coula not sustain its plausibility, Senator Wilson followed his colleague and defended the War Department. He said that all bids for arms Known or suspected, on any reasonable grounds, to be made In the interests of the French government, had been rejected. It was not tne Department's Dusiness to go behind the bid, unless proof or charges were made in a responsible manner. Mr. Sumner acknow!edges the right of citizens to pur- chase arms and sell tue same to belligerents at peace with us, running their own risk; but he re- garde it as an undesirable and inhuman privilege, , Which shouid be abrogated by international law. A ‘part of his speech was devoted to proving this. Practical men, like his colleague, take their ground on. the jaw. Mr. Wilson referred to the alleged discrepancy between the War and Treasury Departments as to the amount re. ceived and paid over for arms sold, The detailed Feport of sales made by the Se@retary of War shows @ total of $9,737,437 70, of which all but $114,827 68 had been conveyed into the Treasury and the ‘vouchers given and received, The balance was in the hands of disbursing officers, Ot the total mount charged as received for tne sale of arms $2,680,000 was received In the eighteen months pre- eeding July 1, 1872, He asserted that these charges ‘were inspired in part by the present French govern- ment’s hostility to Gambetta, by whom the arms ‘purchased here had been patd for, Senator Scharz tried to catch Mr. Wilson in some discrepancy, but failed, Tne latter then proceeaed in his usual way to pour ou on the troubled waters of ‘party dissatisiaction. Mr. Harlan obtained the floor; and commenced a sharp attack on Mr. Sumner, but goon gave way to an adjournment, which occurred ‘at four, There was considerable elation among the ma- Jority at what they deemed the failure of Mr. Sumner to make his case good. The theory countenanced by the War Department in regara to the charges made by Mr. Sumner is very Blartling. It seems plain, both from Mr, Sumner’s Apeech to-day and from facta which were previously ‘known, that the French government paid’ more money for arms purchased from the United States through secret agents than was received by this government, The French were anxious to discover the manner in which the fraud was perpetrated and ‘vy whom. As it was impossible to obtain the necessary testimony ta France, the French having NO means of taking the evidence of unwilling wit nesses in America, a plan was hit upon 60 ingen- Jous that the Sendte is undertaking to furnish the evidence at our expense. This plan, tt 18 al- leged, ts the reat purpose of Sumner’s intended in- vestigation. Manyof the documents used by Mr. Sumner to-day, and especially the letter of tho Gecretary of War of January 19, written to the Secretary of State, which he quotes in the preamble 40 bis Fesolavion, were neyer printed or furaished to any person except the, French Embassy, and it 1s boldly asserted that the papers were diverted from the Keeping of that Embassy to be used in an at- tack upon our government by the enemies of the administration, The Marquis de Chambrun 1s charged witn furnishing these documents and gene- rally with concocting tne plan to advance his own selfish ends and secure the hamuilation of this re- pubilc, by using Mr. Sumner asacatspaw. The Marquis, who Is an attorney of the French govern- ment, has resided in this city for about eight years. As a firm adherent of the Orleans family and a former partizan of theirs, he 1s quite anxious to recommend himself to the French authorities, Being an intimate friend of Mr. Sumner, he has used that confidence to secure both his friends and his own objects in the way indicated, It 1s de clared that if the French government bave been able in any way during the trial of Victor Place, to find reason for suspicion against any officer of this government of being an accomplice in Mr. Place’s malfeasance, the diplomatic and courteous mode of procedure would have been to senda communica. tion thereon through the usual channels, asking for aninguiry by our government, Such a request would have undoubtedly been brought to the attention of Congress by the Executive, if the allegations of the French government had been decently sustained, Instead of that its ac- cepted attorney or legal adviser here rushes into tae Partisan arena and makes of the alleged points in his possession an atraignment of the federal admin- istration, Leading Senators declare emphatically that Mr, Sumner shall have his investigation, and that it shall be made thorough, so as to bring to light—as it is claimed will be the result— facta that will show how his personal bostilicy un- hinges juagment, . On the other nand Mr, Sumner affirms that there are the gravest reasons for belleving that a serious breach of international obligations has been com- Mitted, and that the facts will sustain him in his Jealous regard for our honor and duty. The House and the Naval Appropriations— Mr. Cox Pinning the Republicans to Civil Service Reform—Navy Yard Employes. ‘The frst fair opportunity to test the sincerity of civil service reform professions Was a‘forded in the House to-day upon an amendment by Mr. Cox, of New York, upon the Naval Appropriation bill, Mr, Cox proposed that no workmen should be employed at political dictation, This was a measure going to the root of the evil so much complained of in the conduct of our civil service and called out the ex: pression of much feeling upon the subject, General Slocum, of New York, said if the House would givo him an investigating committee he would prove that political influence in the matter of ap- pointment went further than party; that in New York all men known as “Fenton men” had been turned out of office and “Conkling men” puttin their places; that ship carpenters had been dis- missed for no other reason than that they were not Conkling men. Mr. Cox spoke of tne Mare Islan’ Navy Yara in California, intimating that through its patronage the member from that district had been elected, whereupon Mr. Coughlan rose to ex- plain that, on the contrary, he received 850 demo- cratic votes in Vallejo, the town were the yard was located, General Farnsworth made a good point in show- ing that the government could not ouild its own ships as cheap as private enterprise, i consequence of the abuses growing from the fact that political influence kept workmen at higher pay and without regard to fitness. Mr. Butler, of Massachusetis, offered a substitute for Mr. Cox’s amendment, which provided that naval officers should not inter- fere with the employment of workmen, He wanted Master mechanics in charge of the work to seleci the men without dictation from men who know nothing about the work. This amendment was adopted by a vote of 65 to 65, all the republicans but fovr voting for it, as @ means of killing Mr. Oox’se clyil service amendment, Mr. Cox was on the alert, however, and promptly offered ag a proviso to the substitute his original amendment, witn change enough to make it in order, and thus compelled a vote on civil service reform. On the division the democrats voted yea solid, and four republicans—Hoar, Finkelnburg, Beatty and Farnsworth, All the rest of the republicans were against it. When tellers Were ordered, however, members began t» dodge the vote. Cox’s amendment Was carried by 71 to 64 So much for the first effort at civil servico reform. Just before adjournment the Speaker laid before the House a request from the Senate for the testl- mony taken before the committee appointed to in- vestigate alleged irregularties in regard to the in- peaohment trial of Andrew Johnson. This action is in relation to the charges made against Mr, Legate, who has been appointed Governor of Wash- ington Territory. Practical Not Holiday Service for Our Young Naval Officers. The Secretary of the Navy has much solicttude that the younger Officers of the navy be afforded, as far as possible, every opportunity to acquire a fair average of service on board of the vessels best adapted to give them professional experience, His attention has been directed to the fact that the graduates of the Naval Academy have a preference for easy positions, to the detriment of tne service. He has therefore issued an order tothe eommander-in-chief of the Asiatic squadron direct- ing that as few of the younger officers of the navy be assigned to the sidewheel steamers as will prop- erly serve their purposes, and this pertod of ser- vice be limited on board the Monocacy and Ashte- lot to one year, or as far as possible to that time, Similar orders wiil also be issued to other com- manders of squadrons, Ten New Iron-Clads, The House Committee on Naval Affairs having agreed to report a bill forthe construction of ten tron-clad steamships, at & cost of $3,000,000, Secre- tary Robeson and General Butler appeared before the Committee on Appropriations to-day and urged the necessary appropriations, A United States District Judge Charged with Drunkenness and Malfeasance, Charges have been preferred against Judge Diile, United States District Judge for Kansas, which are to be Investigated by the Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives, Some parties from New York who had a case in bankruptcy before him are the complainants. The charges are mal- feasance in office and habiwuai drunkenness, It is asserted by parties acquainted with the facts that the investigation will probably result in his re- moval. Startling Steamboat Inspection Statistics. It appears from official documents that the num- ber of steamers on the Atlantic coast mspected in 1871 Was 1,410; the value of property destroyed by fire, explosion, collision and wreck was $1,324,000; lives’ lost, 319; mumber of steamers inspected in waters flowing into the Guif of Mexico, 1,077; property destroyed, $1,414,000; lives lost, 695, Number of steamers Inspected on the lakes, 640; property dostroyed, $406,000; lives lost, 235. Number of steamers inspected on the Pacitic coast, 180; lives lost, 206; no statement of the property destroyed. The South Carolinn Senators Rights. Senator Robertson to-day received the following telegram from W. B. Nash, Senator in the Legisla- ture of South Carolina:— CoLumBta, 8. C., Feb, 14, 1872, The Senate, after a lengthy debate, have in nitely postponed the resolution requesting Me: e Kobertson and Sawyer’s resignation as United States Senators. The vote was—yeas 17, nays 5. The Clayton Investigation. Areport has prevailed that Senator Clayton was instrumental In having the Investigation of tis case conducted by the special committee with closed doors, This 18 not true. The committee itself only followed the usual conrse tn such cases, Alabama and Obie Contested Scais in the House. ‘The Flouse committee to-day heard the concluding argument in the contested election case from Ala- bama—Norris against Handley, Some time ago a memorial was received from the Third district of Ohio, asking, a8 Minister Schenck is not a party to the contest for Mr. Campbell's seat, that the House make a special contest. To-day Mr. Campbell procured the postponement of the consid- eration of the case fora few days in order, in the meantime, to present counter aMidavits, ‘The Army Appropriations. The army bill reported to-day appropriates 1 $29,648,797, OF this amount $12,000,000 are for pay and Civil of the army and the payment of discharged soldiers; $120,000 for seacoast, cannon and carriages, &c. ; $150,000for manutacture of arms at tne National Armory. ‘The Southern Claims Commission. The Southern Claims Commission to-day heard the cases of Hester Nealy, Asa B, Daniel and Eidred Nunelly, a)) of Mississippl. Tne aggregate of their claims is $55,460, ‘The Hornet Permitted to Come to New York. The Attorney General has decided in the case of the steamer Hornet to allow her to go to New York upon a bond to be en ered into by suMicient sure- ties that she will proceed direct to New York from Baltimore, and go nowhere else, Asked to Resign. Louts E, Johnson, United States Marshal for the district of South Carolina, has been informed through the Attorney General that his resignation will be accepted by the President. it is reported his successor will probably be Robert W. Wallace, son of Representative Wallace, and a native of South Carolina, Philadelphia Wants a New Post OMice. A committee of the leading citizens of Philadel- phia arrived here thia evening and Will to-morrow appear before the House and Senate Committees on Post Ofices and Post Roads to urge the claims of that city to a new Post Office building. The Assay Board, . The Board appointed by the President to attend the annual assay at Philadelphia has completed its labors and reported to Secretary Boutwell that the coinage of the Philadelphia, Carson City ana San Francisco mints were perfecily correct. Some sug> gestions adopted by the Board in reference to the Mint bul now before Congress have been sent to the Commitiee on Coinage, Weights and Measures, The Tarif Bil in Committee=The Salt Daty. The Committee of Ways and Means to-day talked over the tariff question and debated whether they should wait until the House disposed of the bill re- moving the tariff from tea and coffee before they methodically consider the genera: subject. They concluded to go on with that business irrespective of the tea and coffee bill, According to present in- dications a month at least will elapse before perfect ing the Tarif bill. Mr. Nickerson, an importer, from Boston, was be- fore the Committee of Ways and Means to-day, and advocated the removal of the duty on salt, He took the ground that salt could be bougnt at Liverpool, Turks Island and other foreign places at from nine to fifteen cents per bushel, and consequently the duty of eighteen cents per 100 pounds amounted to 200 per cent on the original cost. Salt, ne said, had doubled in price in this country since the tncrease of the duty, The committee gave him the privilege of submitting a statement in writing. Mr. J. F. Driggs, of Saginaw, submitted a state- Ment showing that he purchased salt at that place before the discovery of the salt basin there in 1856 at $1 25 per barrel and sold it at $137; that he Would now contract to sell, during next summer, at the same place, from twenty to twenty- five thousand barrels of salt, deliverable at Saginaw, for $1 35 per barrel. This he could do owing to obtaining his fuel from the refuse of the sawmills comparatively free, Where wood is bought at $3 per cord, market price, making five barrels to the cord, The cost of pro- ducing the salt is, including barrels, labor, &c., $1 34 per barrel. He showed that the reduction of the duty and consequent reduction of the price of salt would close all the salt works buying their fuel, Which 1s the larger portion, The Tax on Tcbacco—The “Plugs” Feeling Ualy. The manufacturers of plug tobacco are indignant at the action of the Comumittee on Ways and Means in their discriminating resolution to reauce tne tax on all grades of the thirty-two cent Class io twenty- Jour cents and leave the tax on smok- ing topacco at sixteen cents, An effort wil be made to mass the strength of all the manufacturers of plug tobacco here to prevent the passage of the bill if so reported by the Committee. It 18 well known that the Commts- sioner of Internal Revenue earnestly recommended a uniform tax, but said nothing about the rate, He could even prefer that it should be sixteen cents than that the proposed recommendation become a law. ‘To test tho sense of the House Mr. Randall, of Fennsylvanta, will on Monday next introduce a bill to make the tax on tobacco uniform at sixteen cents per pouna on all grades. fireproof Materials for Public Buildings. Tne Secretary of the Treasury has ordered that @ test be made of fireproofing material for tilling in walls, and the supervising architect, with a num- ber of experts, most of them safe makers, com- menced the experiments to-day at the Navy Yard. The onject isto ascertain if there 1s any material that can be economically usea in making public buildings Oreproof and prevent losses, such as the government nearly always experiences at large fires in the principal cities. The Celery Seed Duty. The Treasury Department has decided that celery seed 1s not @ medicinal seed, being unknown to trade or commerce as a medicine, Neither is it en- titled to entry free under the twenty-second section of the act of July 14, 1870, but should be classified for auty as a garden seed under the provision therefor, found in the eighth section of the act of July 14, 1862, which reads as follows:—“‘On garden seeds and all other seeds for agricultural purposes not otherwise pro- vided for thirty per cent ad valorem.” Civil Service Reform. The House Select Committee on the Reorganization of the Civil Service agreed to-day on a bill to re- organize the clerical force of the House. They had under consideration, without arriving at a conclu- sion, & bill similar to that of Senator Trambull’s, to preserve the freedom of members o1 Congress by disconnecting them with the procurement of offices, Presidential Nominations. The President sent the following nominations to the Senate tu-day:— Postmasters.—Wm. L. Bigby, at Newnan, Ga.; Alfred Kent, at Gonzales, Texas; G. W. Farrow, at Groesbeck, Texas; E. B, Dawson, at Boonton, N, J. ; J. 8. Lozier, at Hackensack, N. J. Uncle Sam’s Country Houses. The bill which passed the Louse to-day fora fire- proof bullding in Hartfora, Conn., for government purposes, appropriates $300,000, and the same amount is appropriated in another bill, waich passed, for the purchase of a site for a public build- ing in Cincimnati. Informers’ Profits. The amount paid by the Internal Revenue Office as informers’ shares for tle year ending with No: vember last, was $61,000, RAPID TRANSIT, The Committee of Ninety at Work—Report Upon the Bill for aa Underground Rail- read. Py The Committee of Ninety of the Citizens’ Reform Association met last evening at No, 62 Union square, Mr. John Foley occupied tho chair. There was a good attendance of members, Mr. Townsend was asked to report as to any necessary amendments to the bill, He stated that the committee had ne changes to recommend in the present bill as now proposed and submitted to the jot committee of the Legislature, for the reason that the bill in its present shape was better than it would be by any amendments that suggested them- selves. ‘The report was nnanimously accepted, Mr. HAZARD inquired whether tue name of Myer Stern had been added to the committee. The CHAIKMAN replied In the affirmative, Mr. Hazarp then proposed to add tue names of Thomas Rooseveit, W. E, Doge, 8. D. Babcock, H. B. Ciafin, Jackson 8. Scnuliz, Henry Clews and George Updyke., He thought that by doing so the public confidence m the undertaking would be greatly increased, The CHAIKMAN considerod that the number was bpd atone suficientiy large for all purposes. lengthened discussion took place on this point, and finally Mr. Devalle suggested, by way of amend- ment, that the names of Henry Clews, Jackson % Scauitz and W. 8, Dodge alone pe adaed, A reso- lution was made to that effect; but, after some de- bate, It Was pul tv vote aud lost, and theymeeting adjourned, THE ATLANTIC AND GULF RAILROAD, SAVANNAH, Ga, Feb, 14, 1972, At the annual clection of officers of the Atlantic and Gulf Railroad to-day the old board was re- elected, A proposition made to extend the road to Mobile met with great lavor, but was referred for Surtner details. An ofer from Morris Ketchum and others, of New York, to iease the road was read, and & motion requesting the parties to make a definite oer was adopted, Tue proposition is to be submitted bg the stockholders * @ future meeung, THE WESTERN BLOCKADE. A Report from the Union Pacific Railroad Company. History of the Snow Storms Affecting the Road— Attempts to Obviate the Diffioulty—Great Trouble as to Labor—False and Exaggerated Reports—What- They Are Doing About It. Omauna, Neb, Feb, 14, 1872, ‘The following statement of the history and condi- ton of the Union Pacific snow blockade 1s furnished by that company:—The first blockade on the Union Pacific Railroad during the present season occurred October 12 near Ruwhns, Since that time, with brief intervals, there has been a succession of snow and wind @orms of great violence. vhe greatest depth of falling snow on tne line of the road across the mountains 1s fifty-four inches. But the devention of trains has been caused by drifting, and hot by falling snow, Three winters ago a blockade occurred which lasted twenty-one days. This was before any snow fences or snow sheds had been built. During the following year snow sheds aud snow fences were erected at lo- calities where the road had been obstructed and at other poinis where those persons best acquainted with the country and its meteorology thought 1t destrable for the thorough protection of the road. The summit cuts were shedded, and at various places from one to four lines of snow fences were erected on the nortuwest side of the road, from which direction, it was the experience of mountain Men that snow storms invariably come. This pro- tectlon appeared ample during the two winters next succeeding. Although snow storms were numerous, there was no blockade and but very slignt detention of trains, AFTER THE FIRST BLOCKADE THIS WINTER the three succeeding snow storms came from pre- cisely the opposite direction, and against those snow storms these fences afforded no protection whatever. An effort was then made to erect fences On the opposite side of the road, and every availa- bie resource of the company was used to procure materials for that purpose 1n the shortest possible time. Large gangs of workmen were employed night and day in the construction of fences at Omaha, When made in sufiicient quantities special trains loaled with new fence were sent to the pro- per localities for erection, and preference was given to these and to the coal trains over all others. In November the second serious blockade occurred, the fences having been found imsufleient to arrest the drifting snow. Au efforts was then made to open the road and keep it open by the use of snow ploughs, of which the company had thirteen that had proved to be efiicient during the past two Winters, with three heavy wagons coupled vehind each piough, and as the result of this attempt tweniy locomouves were disabied witinn one week by being thrown from the track and materially injured, ‘The arifted snow proved to be so dense that it was impossibie to torcé a plough whrough it until after the cut was trenched at intervals of eight or ten Jeet down to the rails. It then became evident that manual labor must be provided to clear tse track, With all possible despatch SEVEN SNOW TRAINS WERE FITTED OUT, With accommodations on each for sleeping and feeding seventy-five laborers, and, wiih two weeks’ supplies of provisions, tuls force was set at work, in dition = tO the ordinary number of employés, and it has been only ty the aid of these Snow trains, followed by ploughs, that we have been able to send teams over the road, Ranchmen, who have lived on the mountains jor the last twenty-five years, say that nothing like the present winter has occurred in that ume, consider- Ing eitner the depth of suow, the duration of the intense cold or the violence and frequency of the storms, For such @ winter our road 1s not pre- ared; but after an examination of the situation It is Uhought that the road can during the next season ve prepared to pass trains promptly durmg any fucure winter of even greater severity than Ue present, at an expense considerably less than the ainouutthe Company has lost during the last three months from interruption of travel and incurred expendiiures. One difMicnity has been that the road passes throug a region desutute of supplies and kukor, When obstrucons oc- curred boi theso Were required to be trausported over long distances and by long continued working, extra hours and curing intense cold, The méa, 1b some Cases, became aisneart- ened anu retused to work, and in numerous cases they Nad frozen ilinbs and were disavied, Until the weather shall change and those storms cease it 18 Our expectation to run trains over the road by preceding them by a snow traid, and also with @ train of provisions and cecal suficient for a tuirty days’ supply. By this means we expect to get trains through tn fourteen tu fiteen days, depend- ing, of course, on the FREQUESCY AND VIOLENCE OF THE STORMS. No trains will be sent out without this supply, and, aichough passengers wiil necessarily experi- ence the annoyance of detention, 1t 19 intended that these supplies of fuel and provisions shall ve ample for any ewergency. There has been no sulfering tor want of provisions, hor will there be any by tue pas- sengers on tnis road. ‘The road is now open from Omaha to Laramie—distauce, 572 miles— and from Washaki to Ogden—distance, 228 miles. ‘The obstructions are between Laramie and Washaki, embracing the divide of the Continent, veing only 179 miles. There are now seven West bouad pas- senger trains detaimed near Separation, which is twenty-nine miles distant from the western bound- ary of the blockade; and there are two East bound Dassenger trains at Green Kiver waiting until the West bound trams shail pass the blockade. At various points along the road there are about eight hundred West bound cars of freight and about wo bunared cars of Ireight Kast bound, The Latest Reports. OMAHA, Feb, 14, 1872, Reports to-day place the snow-bound trains on the Union Pacific Railroad In about the same position as yesterday. Seven trains, the oldest veing tweaty- eight days from Omaha, are lying at Creston Sum- Tait, More snow, accompanied by high winds, feil here to-day. Teams Have been engaged to carry provisions to the passengera from Fort Steeie. Three trains left Laramie to-day with snow ploughs and a large gang of men. Two engies and a snow plough from the Denver Paciiic Ratlroad have gone West on the Union Pactiic road from Cheyenne, How the Blockade is Regarded in Salt Lake, SALT Lake CITY, Feb. 14, 1872, The snow ploughs that were to start jor Ogden to- day had been ordered not to come, as the Wasatch division 1s clear. Much feeling Pacific Company, the people with proper management and mais could have been brought through a week ago. Responsible parties here have been oftering for the last ten days to bring in all the pas. sengers and maiis within thirty-six hours for a rea- sonable compensation, The stage men laugh at the declaration of the Union Pacific Raiiroaa Company that money would be no object to get the passen- gers and mails through. ‘The weather here to-day 1s mud and rainy, TERRIFIC STORM IN IOWA, exista against the Union believing that the passengers Great Suffering Near Sioux City—A Man Frozen to Death After Travelling Five Miles—Reported Loss of Spotted Tail and His Band. CnIcaGo, Ill., Feb, 14, 1872, A special despatcn from Sioux City says that a fearful storm raged in that section on Monday afver- noon and night. ‘The weather was warm and pleas- ant till two o'clock P. M., when a storm set in with great fury, the mercury dropping forty decrees In two hours, The wind biew a hurricane, accompanied bya viinding snow storm. 1t 1s feared that the suitering in the country has been fearful. Samuel Ellison, living eleven mies out of the city, left here for his house at four o’ciock P. M. with a team, and his body was found this morning five miles out; he had frozen to death, Other deaths {rom the storm are reported, but no Particulars are known, ‘The trains on this division of the Tlinojs Central Railroad are all snowed in. The weather jg intensely cold, the thermometer this morning indicating eighteen degrees below zero, Owing to the prostration of the telegraph lines by the storm nothing further nas been heard in re- Jation to the reported freezing of Spotted Tail and his band, but the report is generally creaitea nere, THE SNOW-BOUND PASSENGERS, Condition of Trains on the Union Pacific Railroad. ‘The following telegram from a gentleman who left this city on the 16th of January for San Frans cisco, via the Union Pacific Ratiroad, will be of lnterest:— Crrston, W, T., Feb. 19, 1872 Train eight miles east of this, Fil a and cheese. Ten days more No Ubdene Srecieain eee Creston {8 296 miles east of Ogda»’ J weet 0G Otneaas Ow 1a 736 mile FIRES. Conflagration in Baxter Street—Loss About Sixty-five Thousand Dollars, OMicer Bradley, uf the Sixth precinct, about a quarter to eight o’ciock last night, discovered a fre im the moulding establishment on the second floor Of the six story building No, 11 Baxter street, occu- pied by E. B. Valentine, An alarm being sounded the firemen were promptly on the spot, but vefore thelr arrival the fire, owing to the com- bustible material, had gained such headway they were unable to save the building, which, together with its contents, is a total loss, a8 also the adjoining building, No, 9% About bine o'clock the walls of the building No, 9 fell on the root of the two story building adjoining, occupied by James Kennedy as a livery stable, damaging the building to tne extent of $1,000, Mr. Vaientine, who occupied the two lower floors as & moulding factory, sustains a loss of $3,000; the basement, occupied by frank Moore as a box’ lace tory, was damaged $500, ‘The third floor, occupied by afew manufacturers, Whose names could not be ascertained, sustained a loss of about 31,500, ‘The fourth Noor, occupied by a Mr. Jenkins, fancy box manutacturer, sustains a& loss of $2,000, and Wil. Nams & Co,, turners, occupants of the fiftn floor, of 1,500, ‘the basement and first floor of No. 9, occupied by Fisher & Carpenter, mouluers, sustained a joss of $8,500, George W. Ferguson, occupant of the second floor as & moulding establishment, sustamed a loss of $4,000, The second and third floors, occu- pled by a Mr. Benahon as a moulding estabilsh- Ment, was damaged avout $3,000, Mr, Seibel, oc- cupant of the fifth Noor, sustained a 108s of $1,000, The building was owned by Mr, James Cassoa, Who Sustains a loss of $40,000, partially insured, Dominick Durand, looKing-glass manutacturer, No. 18 of the same street, sustains & loss of $4,000 on stock. The building, also owned by Mr. Casson, was damaged wbout $1,000, Other Fires In the City. IN BANK STREET, Acfifteen minutes past tree o’clock yesterday morning a fire broke out in the first Noor of the wo story frame building Nos, 176, 178, 180 and 182 Bank street, occupied by J. F, Hessman as a kind ling wood factory, causing a loss on building and machinery of $5,000; insured for $4,000, ‘The sec ond floor, occupied by J. F. Tuthill, pattern maker, Was damaged triflingly by water. IN GREENWICH STREET, At six o'clock last might a fire broke out in the second-hand clothing store of Michael Kelly, No. 7 Greenwich street, causing a loss of $200; no insur. ance, IN DIVISION STREET. At five o'clock last evening a fire broke out In the lamp store of D. A. Vandever, 1724¢ Division str Causing a loss to stock and building of $100 each, on which there was no insurance. The adjoining building, No, 172, occupied by James Williams as & grocery store, was slightly damaged by water, IN CHRYSTIE STRE! Primary School No. 7, sitaated jn the rear of 66 Chrystie street, atgtiiteen minutes$past six o'clock last night was found to be on fire in the basement, causing a loss of $300, The fire origiuated from a elective flue, Great Fire in Philadelphia. PHILADELPHIA, Feb, 14, 1872, The explosion of a barrel of powder cement this moruing set fire to F, Roedel & Uo,’s shoe factory on North Third street. William Haas was severely burned. Fifteen men and one girl employed in the upper stories made thelr escape through the roof into adjoining buildings, The stores adjoining, occupied by brown & Hibverd, grocers; J, K. Grim & Sons, dry goods; Wastman and Engiemen, tobacconists, were de- stroyed, The total loss 18 $75,000. The buildings are fully and the stocks partially insured. Roeuell’s stock, valued at $20,000, Was destroyed; insured for $30,000. Mr. Roedell jumped from a third story window and was slightly injured. Several firemen were also Injured by falls, Perots & Co.’s malt house was slightly damaged. Disastrous Fires in Chicago. CHICAGO, Feb, 14, 1872, A fire this morning on West Madison street destroyed three wooden buildings, occupied by J. Lampkin, boots and shoes, loss $8,000; Glang & Hoffman, fur dealers, loss $6,000; Jacobonsky & Stein, tailors, loss $5,000, and also others whose losses Were small. ‘he total 1oss is about $20,000, insured for $9,000, in the Lycoming, Alps, Provin- cial ie Canada, German of Erie and North Mis- sourt, The Union passenger depot of the Chicago and St. Louis and the Iilinois Central Raliroads, aud the hotel adjacent, at Normal, UL, were destroyed by fire this morning. Total loss about $25,000; insured for $12,000, ‘The inmates of the hotel had barely ‘Ume to save thew personal effects, NEW YORK CITY, coroner Herrman yesterday held an inquest on the body of August Ottie, a German thirty-five years of age, Who died from the effects of injuries received the evening previous by falling from a scaffold in the New York Post Office Building, where he was em- ployed, The jury rendered a verdict of accident: deata, Mr, Otue lived at 412 First street, Williams- burg. About haif-past three o’clock yesterday afternoon Samuel Halliday, a porter in the employ of Messra, Loder & Lockwood, 93 Franklin street, wiile nding on the “dummy” from the lower floor to the sub- cellar, Was precipitated to the bottom by one of the the ropes breaking, and, striking on his head, was almost instantly Killed, Deceased only fell a «dis- tance of about eight feet. Deceased was thirty years of age, born in Ireland and itved tn Thirtys sixth street, where he has left @family. Mr. ‘Toal, Clerk to the Board o1 Coroners, gave permission for the removal of the body, and Coroner Herrman will hold an tnguest. At the Mayor’s office, yesterday, Patrick Fitz- gerald was sworn in as Fourth Clerk to the Board of Assistant Aldermen, Mr. John W. Kettleman also took the oath of office as Clerk to the Washing- ton Market im the Department of Finance. Mr. Fitzgeraid’s signature 10 the oath does not show lus rical capabiities very strongly, but as the fourth clerkship to the Board of Assistant Alder- meu 18 @ sinecure oMce this will be no disqualifica- ton to the receiving of nis montnly salary. JUDGE BEDFORD'S GRAND JURY, James M. Sweeny and Hugh Smith Give Bail on the “Conspiracy” Indictment. James M,. Sweeny and Hugh Smith, wno were jomtly indicted with William M, Tweed for con- spiracy by Judge Bedford's Grand Jury, appeared before Recorder Hackett, at Chambers, yesterday afternoon, and gave oall to answer the tndicument in $10,000 each. Forves Holiand became surety for tme ex-Deputy Chamberlain and Bernard Smywu went vail for the ex-Commissioner of Docks, An Incendiary Taken from Prison Before Trial or Examination and Hanged by a Gang of Masked Men. CINCINNATI, Feb, 14, 1872. Aspecial despatch to the £nquirer says that last Friday night the tobacco factory of Ayer & Brother, at Sacramento, McLean county, Ky., was fired by an incendiary and the building, containing 60,000 pounds of tobacco, was entirely consumed, ‘The entire town ovarrowly es- caped Lie as tne breeze from the e e north carried mbers nundreds of yards to the roots of the dwellings. One Clark, who had quar- relled with Ayer, Was arrested and placed under uard, and was to Dave been examined the next jay. During the night @ party of masked men broke into tbe room, overpowered the guard and took the prisoner out. The next morning Clark was found dead at the foot of atree., The Coroner rendered a verdict of “Death by hanging by parties unknown.” “GEORGIA BONDS. European and Other Foreign Bondbolders Need Answer Priated Interrogations Oniy— ‘ihe Bonds Need Not Be Forthcoming. ATLANTA, Gay Feb. 14, 1872. The Bona Committee to-day resolved to periit the European bondholders to submit proofs for the registration of bonds by answer to printed inter. rogatories without requiring the bonds to be pre- sented here. Interrogatories will be furnished by Budge, Scaeffe & Co. and Henry Clews & Co., of New York, The committee wiil sit in New York au. ing the latter part of March or the beginning of April for the accommodation of bondboiders there. , WHO 18 SHE? A Feminine Puzzle for the Newark Police. ‘The police of Newark are greatly puzzed as to the Teal identity of a young girl now in tneir keeping, who gives hername as Emily Davis, and says she has been in theemploy of a Mrs. Ford, at Ford. ham, Westchester county. She turned up on Tues- day night among the lodgers. She is about nne- teen years of age, petice in size, has dark, curiy Naar; sere’: expressive biack eyes, and a very light and delicate complexion. She was atured in a light brown calico uresa, red flannel sack, with scolloped edges, a black and white plaid shaw! and a black velvet jockey hat. Her general appearance indicated that she Was neither a loose girl nor yet what she claimed to be, a servant. Yesterday morning she told her story to the magistrate, but he decided that ner hands Were too soft and white for one wid had done rough housework, His 1m- ression 18 that she ig slightly deranged and may e a fugitive {rom gome one of the electiosynary institutions of the nfetropoils, Until farther develop: ments she is held at the station house in Newarks ‘A FEARFUL EXPLOSION. Horrible Blow Up on the Erie Railroad. A Lecomotive Demolished on the Owego Grade. One Man Killed, Several Fatally Injured and Several Missing, THE CARS TAKE FIRE Great Excitement at Suse quehanna. SUSQUEHANNAM DErot, Pa., Feb. 14, 1872, About eight o'clock last night the authorities About the Erie depot at this place, as’well as the en- Ure village, were attracted by the loud and contin- ued whistle of a locomotive coming down the grade. east of the station and by a bright light in the east. The headlight of the locomotive soon became visible, and 1t was seen to be approaching at & fear ful rate. It stopped at the depot, and the engineer, a3 well as his excitement and apparent fright would permit him, si to the astonished crowd that had assembled! that pusher engine 251, which left the place to-| gether with the engine which had just ai rived, behind extra Ireight 86 a few minal before, had exploded about three miles up th grade, and nine persons on the engine and cabo ahead of it had been killed, TUE WILDEST EXCITEMENT AT ONCE PREVAILED, A surgeon and a number of citizens were at onc Sont to the scene of the reported disaster by the rail: road ofMicials. Upon arriving there a fearful scent met ther aight. Down a bank thirty feet laid tn demolished locomotive, and tn the glare of burning freight and oil cars laid four prostrat forms, one of thei ghastly tn death, Althoug! te report of the engineer at Susquehanna was not found to be strictly ue. The disaster was yet feariul one, THE PARTICULARS as given by one of the traimmen are as follows Extra train, No, 36, Minor Keyes, conductor, on Susquehaina about hall-past seven o’clock,; with the pusher No, 251 and anothe one to help her up the grade, ; The grade, is avou seventy-five fect to the mile, and fo raise it freight trains are obliged to have the aid of one or moro} pushers, engines without tenders, and ver: poweriul ones, too, When avout half way t the summit tne boiler of 251 exploded, tha break occurring in front, in the under sides ‘This lifted the locomotive bodily from the rails and) sent it several fect in the air and then dowa the em- bankmenr, throwing it completely around 80 it faced the station, : THE SCALDING STEAM Was sent rushing into the caboose ahead where Conductor Keyes, his flagman and foux brakemen, were sitting. The rear pushers, with @ full head of steam, closed up the space left by tha exploded engine, and crashed into the canoosed That any of the inmates escaped death does not seem possibie, but beyond very) severe scalds on hands and faces by the steam no injury was done to them. As soon as they recov~ ered from their confusion the conductor and hig men, a8 well as they could, commenced an investl- gation of the disaster and its results, THE DEAD. Lying several feet irom the track, dead and mangled, they found the body of Patrick McCoy, of Deposit, @ trackman, THE MAIMED AND SOALDED. On one side of the track an old man was found with two ribs broken and a@ large hole cut In one of his legs. On the other side of the track was mis son, with his Jess mangled. These two were on their way home, at the Summit, and, standing upon the rear plat~ ‘form of the caboose at the time of the accident, were hit by a plece of the boiler, Mi~ hael Carey, the engineer of the fated loco motive, was found a short distance away, sitting with his head in his hands, Upon being spoken to he looked about with an absent and con- fused alr and asked where his engine was, His head was badly cut, and he had no consctousnesa whatever of the accident. Charles Underwood, the fireman, was found in the caboose of the locomotive, down the bank, crushed and scalded, but alive. He was carried up the bank, and made as easy as possible, A boy who was riding on the pusher was also carried dows with it, but escaped injury, Charles Dean, Frank Bloker, Michael Fritz and Patrick Connolly were badly scalded, A boy who was standing on the platform of the caboose, near the oid man who was so badly hurt, 1g missing. THE TRAIN ON FIRE. A few minutes aiter the explosion the caboose caught fire, which commu. nicated to an ot can adjoining it, But for the ar- rival of the mail train trom the East, which nad! been flagged none too soon ty prevent a stiil greater disaster, the whole train would have been de stroyed, as the locomotive was unable to move it, The engine of the mail train was detached and coupled to the engine of the freight train, and tha burning cars bemg separated the others were moved out of danger. THE DEAD BODY OF M’CAY and the injured persons were brought to this sta. tion. What led to the explosion 1s as yet unknown, WREOK OF THE STEAMER NASHVILLE. CINCINNATI, Feb, 14, 1872, The steamer Nashville, which sunx last night, it 13 feared will prove a tota} loss, It 1s now stated that her cargo Was not worth over eighty thousand dollars: insurance in home companies $29,000 om the boat. ‘The Commercial, of New York, had $10,000 on the cargo. TELEGRAPHIC NEWS ITEMS. William Newton, one of Albany's oldest and most respected citizens, diet yesterday, aged eighty-seven years, Westell Russell, of Hartford, Conn., was renominated yea- terday by the republicans of the county for Sheri(f, James Armatrong, who was convicted of manslaughter at Salem, Mass., has been sentenced to twenty years in tha State Prison. Professor Charies A. Lee, Peekskill, N. Y., died at his; residence In that piace yesterday. ‘He was seventy-two years of age, Aire at Richmond, Va., last night destroyed J. J. Mon= tagu's saan and blind factory and 0, T, Palmers ploughs casting shops. Loss $30, James T. Witson, of St. Louis, bookkeeper for Cartwell & Shorts, was arrestedyes terday for envezaling some twenty- five thousand dollars ot their fund A despatch from Eastport, M seems to be about over for thu been very scarce the past two weeks. Mrs. Mary Foy, of Philadelphia, died yesterday morning from injuries inflicted on Tuesday by ber husband, James Foy, while in a state of Intoxication. Mr. Grosvenor, President of the late Missouri Liberal Con- vention, denies that the Cincinnati Conveation bas been post poned, as charged ty a New Yor journal. Henry Kosenvurg, aged fifty years, and James Sullivan ages weight years, wero killed t, ‘an accident on the Hartfor aud New Haven Ratiroad yesterday morning. Goddin and Welsley Brock were examined in Rich- wok tes yesterday, and indicted for causing the death of Jennie King wolle attempting to procure an abortion. id Cheek, who waa recently found guilty of the muir of Hareson, at Brookville, Ind., has been granted & new trial on the ground of the incompetency of two jurors, oof the ate William E. Barron at Belmon ie ccentiy purchased by Milton S. Latham, was dentro ays the winter fishing on, Fresh herring have Cai., recently pu ‘7 bye yenteray oruing. Loss 300,000; insured. the fre was the work of au incendiary, own election In Chemung county, N. Y., took rae ann und. remuiked. In the efoction of pubil- ‘Last year the lowns elected six leans. peeckiny ‘ame into collision on the Grand Tran! eo iret toacticy croasiag, in sirauiord, N. H., yesterday: 1B Both ioe motives ware badly damaged and one of oriviieers was severely tnjared. The down passenger {rain was detained by the wreck nearly all day, i ng son of & prominent, aad wealthy citizen of St. ate ray Bian yosterday afveranon suspen de! by the neck Jette banisters OF the stairway 10 his Cachor's touse, He waa nocuite ead when cus dowa, Dut it wag with greag Miveulty tha. be was restored. ‘This ls the third attempt ot the yourg man to commit auloid ‘The “Martinett Family” of pantomimiats have sued the managora of the Howard Athenwum, Boston, on « contract for for weeks! periormanced at 0 per wosk. They were permitted to perform only one week, ‘The defendants allegoy Eranawer, that tie plaintil's tailed, aa. agreed, to bring Wo Boston the winle "Martinett! Family” as they had been pers foraiog in New York. The caae va not foished iJ